Pupil Welfare

Keeping our children safe is our number one priority!

We are committed to ensuring the safety of all our children. We have a detailed Child Protection Policy that explains the procedures that the staff must follow in order to protect our children.

At Florence Melly Community Primary, we are committed to safeguarding children and promoting children’s welfare and we expect all staff, governors, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment and maintain a vigilant and safe environment.

This code of conduct aims to support adults so they don’t work in a manner which might lead to an allegation against them. Equally it aims to reduce the opportunity for any adult intent on grooming or harming a young person. It encourages you to work in an open and transparent way that should avoid someone questioning your motives, intentions or suitability to work with young people. It is a key principle of this code of conduct that everyone understands their responsibility to share without delay any concerns they may have about a child’s welfare or an adult’s behaviour towards a young person. In addition, everyone has a responsibility to escalate their concerns to the Local Authority Designated Officer (Liverpool Careline 0151 233 3700 or 225 8116/8101) if they feel that safeguarding concerns they have raised about a child or adult working at the school are not being addressed by the school.

Code of Conduct

If you have any concerns that a child is being harmed, abused or neglected you mustshare your concerns immediately both verbally and in writing with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or if they are absent, the deputy or another member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team. Always listen carefully to the child and record what they tell you in the child’s own words. Never promise to keep a secret.

If you receive an allegation against an adult working in the school or observe behaviour that concerns you, you must discuss your concerns without delay with the Headteacher or Designated Safeguarding Lead. Concerns regarding the Headteacher should be directed to the Chair of Governors or Local Authority Designated Officer.

Anyone (in emergencies or if they need to) can make a referral about their concerns for child to Liverpool Careline (tel: 0151 233 3700).

You should:

dress appropriately according to your role, ensuring that clothing is not likely to be viewed as offensive or revealing and that it is absent of any political or other contentious slogans or images.

act as an appropriate role model, treating all members of the school community with respect and tolerance.

ensure gifts given or received are recorded and discussed with your Line Manager.

report any behaviour or situations which you may feel give rise to a complaint or misunderstanding in respect of your own actions. Also share situations with your Line Manager if you feel your actions might have sat outside this code of conduct.

share with your Line Manager or Headteacher any behaviour of another adult in the school where it gives you cause for concern or breaches this code of conduct or the school’s safeguarding policies. Your intervention may allow for their practice to be supported and developed and/or prevent a child from being harmed.

You should NEVER:

make, encourage or ignore others, making personal comments which scapegoat, demean or humiliate any member of the school community.

use your position to intimidate, bully, humiliate, coerce or undermine any member of the school community. This includes shouting in anger and aggressively to punish them rather than raising your voice to be heard or avoid danger.

develop ‘personal’ or sexual relationships with children and young people, including making sexual remarks or having inappropriate sexual banter. In addition, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes it clear that all members of staff are in a position of trust and would therefore be committing a criminal offence to have a sexual relationship with a young person in full time education/below the age of 18, even if that pupil is over the age of consent.

engage in inappropriate conversations with students or share inappropriate personal information about yourself or others.

discriminate favourably or unfavourably towards a child.

give personal contact details to pupils or communicate outside of school using social networks, email, text, twitter etc or meet a young person out of school unless part of a planned school activity with the knowledge of your Line Manager.

have conversations on social networking sites that make reference to children, parents or other colleagues at the school or be derogatory about the school. Never make any statements or post images on social networking sites that might cause someone to question your suitability to act as a role model to young people or bring your own or the school’s reputation into disrepute. You should never communicate with parents through social network sites and you are strongly advised to declare any existing friendships/relationships to your Line Manager.

use personal equipment to photograph children (always use the school’s equipment) and ensure any photographs are only stored on the designated secure place on the school’s network and not on portable equipment.

use your personal mobile phone in areas used by children unless in emergencies or under an agreed protocol set out by the headteacher. In early years settings mobile phones should be locked away rather than carried by staff in areas occupied by children.

undertake ‘one to one’ activities out of the sight of others unless it is a planned activity with the knowledge of your Line Manager and in keeping with your particular responsibilities.

transport children unsafely, for example by driving whilst using your mobile phone, consuming alcohol, failing to ensure that seat belts are worn or driving without appropriate insurance. Any trips should be planned and with the knowledge of your Line Manager. Unforeseen events should be reported to your Line Manager. It is good practice to have another adult to act as an escort during the journey

have physical contact with young people that might be misconstrued or considered indecent or harmful. Ensure you are always able to give an account of the reasons for physical contact or physical intervention. Where physical contact is required it is good practice for it to be within the sight of others. Any physical contact with a child that was needed to control or restrain a child should be the minimum required.

All school employees should have a clear understanding of their responsibilities under this code of conduct. It aims to help them avoid poor working practices that may lead to their behaviour being investigated and the consideration of disciplinary procedures.

Pupil Welfare:

Parents/Carers are asked to inform the school of any change in circumstances that may affect their child’s well being at school. It is essential that we have up to date medical forms and a reliable emergency contact number. It is important that we are aware of conditions such as epilepsy, asthma, allergies, hearing or sight impairments, diabetes or eczema.

Medicines:

Staff can supervise the administration of prescribed medication when it needs to be taken throughout the day. The medication should be clearly labelled with the child’s name, dosage, method of administration and time of dose. Parents/carers are required to complete an administration of medicines form at the school office.

Medicines should be handed in to the school office by an adult.

Children who use inhalers may do so and will be supervised by our first aid team.